US4252049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cartridge feed system for automatic weapons
Assignee: Rheinmetall Air Defence AG
•
Filing: 1978-09-20
•
Granted: 1981-02-24
•
Expires: 1998-09-20
Abstract
Abstract In the case of cartridge feed systems for automatic weapons or guns having an endless chain for feeding and storing the cartridges there is provided an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by means of the feed or conveying movement of the chain. In order to be able to store a number of different types of ammunition with such equipment and to be able to infeed such to the weapon or gun, the invention contemplates utilizing an outfeed mechanism wherein it is possible to selectively outfeed cartridges in both feed or conveying directions of the endless chain.
Inventors
- 👤 Dolf Franz
- 👤 Armin Brunner
- 👤 Albert Wust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:20
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A9/00; F41A9/37; F41A9/61; F41A9/64; F41A9/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed means for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed means being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; and means for infeeding the cartridges to the automatic gun from a single feed path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed means for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed means being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; and means for infeeding the cartridges to the automatic gun from a single feed path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including: means for selectively turning-on and turning-off said outfeed mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; and means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said driving means includes a respective drive means provided to each side of the outfeed mechanism for driving the endless chain means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein: each said respective drive means comprises a drive gear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges includes at least a pair of chains interconnecting a single group of cartridge holders therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cartridge feed apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; and means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means for both of the directions of conveying of the endless chain means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said drivingly connectable means embody selectively connectable and disconnectable coupling means arranged between the outfeed element and the endless chain means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said drivingly connectable means embody selectively connectable and disconnectable coupling means arranged between the outfeed element and the endless chain means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said outfeed element comprises a cam shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said outfeed element comprises a cam shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said outfeed mechanism comprises rail means which, at the region of the outfeed element, describe an arc for deflecting the endless chain means in the direction of the gun.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
121 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism comprises a rotatable outfeed element; means drivingly connecting said rotatable outfeed element with the endless chain means; and said outfeed mechanism comprises rail means which, at the region of the outfeed element, describe an arc for deflecting the endless chain means in the direction of the gun.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
132 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said driving means includes a respective drive means provided to each side of the outfeed mechanism for driving the endless chain means; each said respective drive means comprises a drive gear; and a respective spring mounted sprocket wheel operatively associated with each drive gear at a side thereof extending along the endless chain means and facing away from the outfeed mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for automatic guns, comprising: an endless chain means for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for driving the endless chain means selectively in each of two possible directions of movement; an outfeed mechanism for outfeeding the cartridges by the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeed mechanism being structured and arranged for outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; said driving means includes a respective drive means provided to each side of the outfeed mechanism for driving the endless chain means; each said respective drive means comprises a drive gear; and a respective spring mounted sprocket wheel operatively associated with each drive gear at a side thereof extending along the endless chain means and facing away from the outfeed mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for an automatic gun, comprising: an endless chain means movable in two conveying directions for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for outfeeding the cartridges as a function of the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeeding means outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; and means for infeeding the cartridges to the automatic gun from a single feed path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A cartridge feed apparatus for an automatic gun, comprising: an endless chain means movable in two conveying directions for feeding and storing the cartridges; means for outfeeding the cartridges as a function of the conveying movement of the endless chain means; said outfeeding means outfeeding the cartridges in both directions of conveying of the endless chain means; and means for infeeding the cartridges to the automatic gun from a single feed path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2489428A
Cited
US3370506A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-24 | 1984-08-25 | 1985-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-24 | 1988-08-25 | 1989-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-24 | 1992-08-25 | 1993-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |